Our Mission

As former vice president of government affairs, he led the Student Conservation Association’s work in congressional and agency affairs, cooperative agreements, natural resource initiatives and partnerships. Prior to serving as VP, Don was SCA’s Alaska regional director establishing its state office, and strategic alliances supporting programs in fisheries, forestry and recreation resources.

His national programs include wildland fire community assistance with the National Interagency Fire Center; wilderness management with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute; and, invasive species treatment and monitoring with BLM.

Don served as wilderness social scientist and planner with the USDA Forest Service; founder and board chair of the Society of Wilderness Stewardship; member of the Western Governors Association Forest Health Advisory Committee; and member of the Public Lands Service Coalition. He currently serves as board vice president of the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association board of directors.

Don holds a MES degree in environmental studies from The Evergreen State College, BA degree in environmental journalism from Western Washington University and a USCG 50-T Masters license.

Prior to joining the Initiative, Caroline spent more than a decade providing management and administrative leadership on U.S. regional and national marine conservation, policy, research and development projects. She hails from Newfoundland, and loves sharks.

Prior to joining the Foundation, I worked for six years in commercial fisheries management, this helped me gain extensive field experience in the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program, and was a key component to the successful start of the IFQ Catch Monitor Program. In addition to a busy professional life, I’m an active volunteer devoting time to community outreach and environmental stewardship programs.

Since an early age, conservation and the upholding of wild places have been important to me. An avid skier, hiker and backpacker, the environment of Western Washington has provided recreational opportunity, peace of mind and refuge. Because this environment has been so good to me, it’s only right that I return the favor and educate others on the importance of conservation. I hold a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in news/editorial journalism from Western Washington University.

on the Snohomish MRC, including serving two terms as chair of the committee. He also serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Northwest Straits Commission. Jerry is excited by the Initiative’s ability to accomplish work through voluntary actions and its sense that responsibility for environmental outcomes should be shared by all.

She lives in Seattle where she is a Senior Advisor for 501 Commons Service Corps–orienting and supporting volunteers who help build the capacity of nonprofits throughout Washington State. She had her own consulting practice and has worked with nonprofits, foundations and local governments.  Nan previously managed the Environmental Sustainability Program for The Russell Family Foundation.  From 1985 to 2002, she served three Washington Governors, first as deputy director and executive director of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority and later as chair of the Puget Sound Action Team. Prior to that, Nan worked as Energy Project Coordinator for the Washington State associations of cities and counties. She also worked for the League of Oregon Cities on issues ranging from land use and growth management to energy policy and election law.  Nan has served on a variety of public and nonprofit boards.  She was a founding member of the Association of National Estuary Programs and is a past president of the Environmental Education Association of Washington.  She currently chairs the board of the Sustainable Path Foundation and serves on the boards of North Cascades Institute and Western River Conservancy.  She is also a member of advisory boards to Curriculum for the Bioregion, the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, and the Salish Sea Institute.

After earning a BS in Marine Biology, Emily moved to San Juan Island to pursue her dream of working with orcas and fell in love with island life. Working in marine tourism for almost a decade, Emily has had the opportunity to see the effects of ecosystem health on communities and had the opportunity to be a part of meetings and rulings regarding marine wildlife and regulations. Emily brings knowledge of the marine tourism industry and marine biology to the board and is excited to work with Northwest Straits Foundation to protect the ecosystem she has come to call home.

She has worked on a broad range of issues including forest canopy research, rare plant conservation, natural area stewardship, native oyster restoration, water quality, shoreline and estuary restoration and climate change. Her interest is in bring together people, funding, technical resources and sound science to make informed decisions and strategic investments in Puget Sound. She believes healthy, functioning habitats are key to supporting vibrant and sustainable local communities. She values the Northwest Straits Foundation’s commitment to informed policy through sound science, citizen engagement, public-private partnerships, and voluntary conservation. Betsy was an integral member of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Program which created the state’s nearshore ecosystem restoration strategy for Puget Sound. She helped create and manage the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program which provides funding and technical assistance for high quality nearshore restoration, protection and monitoring in Puget Sound. She has a BS in Botany from the University of Washington and a Master of Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College. She currently lives and works in the Seattle area.

An administrative professional with more than 20 years’ experience in nonprofit and governmental agencies. She has dedicated her career to the ideals of social
justice, resource conservation, education access and supporting the arts. She has worked in marketing, fundraising, communications and strategic planning for One Reel, a nonprofit arts organization in Seattle; MoNA, a regional arts museum in La Conner; North Cascades Institute,an environmental education organization based in North Cascades National Park; and Everett Community College, among others.

When Amy is not working indoors on causes and campaigns she believes in, she can be found outdoors recreating on trails, mountains, waterways on her
paddleboard, and practicing yoga. Her favorite things to do on the Salish Sea are paddleboard, swim and catch crab from her paddleboard. She lives with her partner on Fir Island, along the North Fork of the Skagit River.

Calm Cove Oyster Company began operation in 1946. Currently, Duane volunteers on
a couple other boards such as the Pacific Shellfish Institute, and the Pacific Coast Oyster Growers
Association.

Duane served in various roles as staff to the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority ( then Action Team,
and PS Partnership) from 1991 to 2014. As Deputy Director, he proudly became associated with the
NWSI, serving on the Commission from its inception until 2014 when he retired.

Duane has a passion and interest in observing and photo-document the natural world. Over the past 70+ years, he has overlooked the shores of Totten Inlet, noting changes and behaviors of birds, mammals, fish and other marine life, and is proud to have instilled that interest in his daughters, Evie and Anna.

As long as mind and body allow him to stay active doing important conservation and restoration work,
with fun and dedicated staff and fellow board members of the NWSF, he is honored to remain engaged.